Roger Mardon fire service history

Fire service historian and author

Roger Mardon

www.romar.org.uk

NCB fire brigades - Bentley, Brodsworth and Thorne collieries, 1952 1953

NCB fire brigades - Durham & Northern (N & C) Divisions Fire & Rescue Brigade and the Northumberland & Durham Fire & Rescue Brigade, 1952-1967

Rescue stations opened between 1902 and 1918

NCB central rescue stations

1953 1954 1955

1956 1957 1958 1959 1960

In the mid-19th century there were 3,200 privately-owned deep coal mines in Britain. Mining accidents and disasters were all too frequent and mines rescue provision by the mine owners was made compulsory by the Coal Mines Act 1911.

With effect from 1 January 1947, as a result of the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act 1946, about 1,100 mines then surviving were brought into public ownership under the control of the National Coal Board (NCB). Another 450 small mines were licensed by the Board for private operation.

The colliery fire and rescue brigades also became the responsibility of the NCB.

By 1950 the number of NCB mines was down to 901, by 1960 to 698, and by 1970 there were only 293. In 1987 the National Coal Board was renamed the British Coal Corporation.

Privatisation of the British coal mining industry was authorised by the Coal Industry Act 1994, when only 16 deep mines remained. Now, once again, all coal is produced in the private sector. The re-opening of a few mothballed mines and the continued private operation of previously 'licensed' small mines meant that at the end of the year 2000 there were 19 deep mines in production. Now there are just 7 major deep mines (as at 31/3/2006 - Dept for Business Enterprise & Regulatory Reform).

Following privatisation of the industry, mines rescue became the responsibility of the mine owners. The Escape and Rescue from Mines Regulations 1995 impose requirements with respect to escape and rescue. No mine may be operated unless the owner has made effective arrangements for rescue in an emergency situation, and the owner must participate in a mine rescue scheme approved by the Secretary of State. Central rescue facilities are now provided by Mines Rescue Service Ltd, a private sector company, from rescue stations at Crossgates (Fife), Houghton-le-Spring (Durham), Kellingley (Yorkshire), Rawdon (Derbyshire), Mansfield (Nottinghamshire) and Dinas (Glamorgan).

The links below list fire and rescue stations operated under earlier arrangements. Any information to correct or complete these details will be welcome.

For an excellent account of the history and development of the Mines Rescue Service in Britain visit www.healeyhero.co.uk